4/1/2017
Jennifer Matthews Williams

Horse Training Challenge Offers $10,000 in Prize Money

April 1, 2017: Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society is now accepting entries for the Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge.

The Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge is a competition in which amateur horsemen and horsewomen and professional trainers work with a Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society foster horse for four months (horse pickup starts June 1st) and compete in the Challenge at the 2017 Bluebonnet Horse Expo on October 21, 2017 in Austin, Texas. Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society Executive Director Jennifer Williams says, “This is such an important part of our mission with Bluebonnet. It is a chance to show the public what rescue horses can do and helps many of our horses find adopters.”

The goals of the Challenge are to:

  • Introduce the public to talented rescue horses
  • Showcase the training abilities of Bluebonnet amateur and professional horsemen and horsewomen
  • Produce horses who are ready to go to work for their adopters

This year’s event includes offering the following divisions: Professional Trainer, Foster Horse Needs Finishing (under saddle), and Foster Horse in Hand, and Youth in Hand (ages 12-17). The Foster Horse classes will be open to amateur horsemen and horsewomen and to approved youth riders/handlers.

Horse/handler teams will compete over obstacles and in a freestyle competition on October 21 in Austin. All horses will be offered for adoption to pre-approved adopters that day.

This year the Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Challenge has a new coordinator, Jennifer Matthews Williams. She’s excited to be working with the great trainers and amateurs who will compete in the Challenge and to help these awesome horses find new homes. “There is a myth that rescue horses are not of good quality. That is just not true. Many of the BEHS horses I’ve seen compete in previous BEHS Challenges have gone on to successfully compete in Eventing, dressage, western performance, competitive trail, and more. I’m excited to help make this happen for more horses!”

For more information, please contact Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society at (888) 542 5163 or info@bluebonnethorseexpo.com.